Community Living North Frontenac – Supporting Families Through Difficult Times

Submitted by Dean Walsh, Executive Director, Community Living-North Frontenac | May 03, 2023

In 2021 Community Living Ontario (CLO) developed document called “Building a Full Life + a Home of One’s Own in the Community”.

The paper discusses the steps that developmental services have taken over the years from deinstitutionalization to group living and then eventually to supported independent living. These steps are certainly what guided Community Living-North Frontenac (CL-NF) since 1976.

As we all progress through life, we require different levels of support and guidance, this is no different for people with intellectual disabilities.

Recently, CL-NF developed a Children’s Service Residential program. This program was created as a local family became frustrated because their child could not live at home due to challenging and complex support needs.

Their child had to move to Ottawa and eventually to Western Ontario. Both placements broke down leaving the family and their loved feeling distraught and without hope. With the support of the family and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, CL-NF stepped up to the challenge to find a permanent solution.

CL-NF redeveloped an internal living space at its main office that would eventually become the start of CL-NF’s first Children Service Residential program until a more permanent solution could be found. CL-NF’s Board of Director’s purchased a local home and started CL-NF’s first Children Service Residential program, which is not funded by the board itself without funding from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

As the CLO document talks about people living a full life in the community, it is important to note that CL-NF has not changed nor have future plans to change its mandate from supported independent living to group living. CL-NF will continue to provide individualized supports to provide everyone the opportunity to be successful in their own community and sometimes that does mean change.

As Community Living-North Frontenac continues to redevelop its programs, we always look for opportunities to engage with community members, if you should have questions or concerns related to above content or any other programs that is managed by CL-NF, I encourage you to reach to me directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..